Mariah Carey Sued By Broadway Christmas Choir

Truth rating: 10

By Andrew Shuster | 3:37 pm, September 19, 2017

(Getty Images)

Mariah Carey is being sued by the Christmas choir, Broadway Inspirational Voices, for allegedly failing to pay the group a nearly $70,000 fee. The organization claims it was hired to perform with the singer at her 2016 holiday concert, but the offer was rescinded shortly before the gig and the performers were never compensated.

According to TMZ, BIV signed a deal with Carey’s team to perform nine Christmas songs with the singer for her 2016 show at The Beacon Theatre in New York City. The group’s lawsuit says that shortly after they got the job, Carey’s people informed them she had decided to go “another direction with regard to the choir.”

BIV, which is described on its official website as a “diverse choir of Broadway artists united to change lives through the power of music and service,” previously worked with Carey at her 2014 holiday show without any issues. The choir was founded in 1994 as the Broadway Gospel Choir before changing to its current name in 1999. In 2010, BIV became a non-profit organization with the mission of “providing hope to inspire and transform youth in need through music and the arts.”

In addition to Carey, the Grammy-nominated choir has performed with musical artists including Elton John, Sting, the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Vanessa Williams, Heather Headley and Billy Porter. The group has also been featured on the Tony Awards, “The Rosie O’Donnell Christmas Special,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Smash” and “America’s Got Talent.” The choir’s first album, Great Joy: A Gospel Christmas, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004. Gossip Cop has reached out to reps for both Carey and BIV for more information about the lawsuit, but we’re waiting to hear back.